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The situation really did look rather bleak for the Rochester Americans heading into Game 2 tonight.

Bolstered lineup or not, they are still a low seed playing an elite AHL team. And in their chance to create doubt for the Chicago Wolves and gain instant series momentum of their own, they laid a colossal egg on Friday night.

The Amerks somehow managed to turn a 3-1 second-period lead into a 4-3 overtime defeat in Game 1.

If they'd rolled over and went away quietly in Game 2 on Saturday night, it would not have been acceptable, but it would have been understandable.

The franchise had lost 10 straight playoff games, including back-to-back 3-0 sweeps by elite Toronto Marlies teams in 2012 and 2013. While some players have enjoyed playoff success, this group has either never been here before or has just lost.

But the Amerks showed some interesting qualities tonight: Heart, determination and arrogance.

Just like in Game 1 on Friday, the Amerks opened a 3-1 lead. But unlike Friday, this time they protected that lead. Instead of sitting back, instead of panicking, instead of wilting when the pressure set in, they kept playing their attacking style.

And they won 3-2.

They were tenacious in front of their net. They had a mean streak when necessary. They played with confidence when they were ahead.

Just like that, it's a series. The Amerks and Wolves are 1-1 with the series heading to Chicago for the concluding games.

"We learned our lesson last night," said left winger Colton Gillies, the game's first star. He scored the first Amerks goal, set up the second by Chad Ruhwedel and was absolutely dominant on the forecheck and penalty kill.

Even after taking a direct hit in the protective cup on a shot block -- the cup usually prevents damage but it does nothing to deflect pain -- he never missed a shift.

"He'll do whatever it takes," coach Chadd Cassidy said.

If anyone epitomizes how the Amerks need to play, it's Gillies. "The playoffs are kind of my style of game," he said.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray was here watching. He saw Game 1 on Friday, too. I have to believe he sees Gillies, a free-agent to be, fitting into the organization next season. And not just in Rochester.

Even as well as they played for 55 minutes, the Amerks were very much in position to do another elfoldo again tonight.

They had a chance to go ahead 4-1 but Rasmus Ristolainen's shot hit the cross bar and caromed away. "A complete bomb," Cassidy called the shot.

On Friday, Luke Adam dangled free out of the corner but his shot clanked away off the goal post and instead of leading 4-1 late in the second period, it was still 3-1.

"It was like Groundhog Day," Cassidy said after Ristolainen's shot found iron.

The Amerks manned up though. They did give up a five-on-three power play goal to Keith Aucoin with 3:22 to play, but they killed the rest of Nick Petrecki's minor and then survived the Wolves' extra-attacker surge in the final minute.

There was some chaos. There were hectic scrambles. Goalie Andrey Makarov, however, said he was very calm.

"If you get nervous," he said, "you will let in one (crappy) goal for sure."

* * * * * * *

Jamie Tardif returned to the lineup and gave the Amerks leadership and inspiration in the dressing room, and some solid, tough minutes on the ice.

He suffered a lower-body injury on March 26 and wasn't expected to play until this coming week. But when Dan Catenacci suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1, he declared himself ready. He didn't quite play a regular shift but he was very good.

"He's played a lot of games in this league; he's a smart player," Cassidy said. "His net-front presence gave us Ruhwedel's goal."

Catenacci's playing status is day-to-day, Cassidy said. Same for defenseman Matt MacKenzie (upper body), who didn't play. Jerome Gauthier-Leduc took his place.

* * * * * * *

From the Department of You Had To Be Here To Believe It:

For perhaps the first time in hockey history, a Wolves player, during play, while skating through the neutral zone, lost his cup (pretty sure it was Tyler Shattock).

It happened in the 18th minute of the first period. How, who knows. But all of a sudden, there it was, skidding across the ice.

A linesman went to pick it up and, realizing what it was, appeared to say, "Um, I'm not touching that."

Milly Schenkel, a penalty box attendant, opened the gate right because it was sitting right in front of that penalty bench. She decided she'd rather not touch it and closed the door.

Finally, after a whistle, Amerks defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen stick-handled the cup over to the Wolves bench and it was returned to the player.